William elmer



STATE-S PATENT GFFIcE.

WILLIAM ELMER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF INFLAMMABLE GASES FOR FUEL, 84c.

Specification forming part of Letters PatentNo. 106,569, dated August 23, 1870; antcdated 7 August 12, 1870. l

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM ELMER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Method or Process of Eliminating in an Isolated and Gaseous I Condition the Heat-Producing Elements Gontying fuel by employing retorts set in a horizontal position, and which retort s were divided through the center by means of a partition.

This arrangement of retorts, though answering the purpose for which it was intended, is not adapted to my present invention.

In my present invention I employ a benc of three retorts, arranged as follows The bench for holding the retorts is mad in the usual form. One-of the retorts is set in the bench in a horizontal position, as is usual in gas-works. The other two retorts are set in a vertical position, one on either side of the horizontal retort.

The latter retort I have, for convenience, denominated the receiving'retort, as the fuel to be subjected to the process is placed in this retort, which is made larger than the vertical retorts.

Thevertical retorts are made in the form of a boot that is, the lower ends of these retorts, when placed in position, turn outward and protrude through the wall of the bench, in

order to admit the attachment of mouthpieces to the retorts, so that, when the mouthpiece is also attached to the receiving-retort, the bench presents the appearance of an ordinary bench of three retorts.

The receiving-retort is connected with one of the vertical retorts by means of a pipe inserted into the mouth-piece of both.

The two vertical retorts are connected with each other at the top of the bench by means of a pipe.

To the mouth-pieceof the vertical retort not connected with the receiving-retort is attached the stand-pipe to convey the gas from the retorts to the hydraulic main.

In order to give a clear understanding of the nature and object of my invention, I deem it necessary to make some general statements as to the effect of heat upon the products given off from ordinary fuel when subjected to the process of distillation.

The materials usually employed. in the production of artificial heat are coal, wood, and

peat, which, though very dissimilar in appear,

ance, are composed mainly of the same elements, namely, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and small, but variable, proportions of nitrogen, sulphur, and other elcments,whicl1 constitute the ash when fuelis burned. But of all these elements two only in their union with oxygen by combustion can take any part in the production of heat; theseare carbon and hydrogen. The other elements in fuel are very objectionable because, being in combustion with the heat-producing elements, they reduce the available quantity of these substances, and, in combustion they enter into new combinations, which again reduce the heat-producing elements, while the compounds thus formed become the vehicle for the transmission of a large share of the heat from the point of ignition to the surrounding atmosphere, so that the actual caloric effects of the combustion 1 To accomplish this object, I subject ordinary fuel, as well as some other substances containing hydrogen and carbon, to, a series of dlStll' lation out of contact with the atmosphere, and

decompose and convert such of the distillates as contain the heat-producing elements that are condensable and non-inflammable into inflammable gases.

It is well known that when bituminous and cannel coals are subjected to the process of distillation at a low red heat, (700 to 800 Fahrenheit,) they yield a variety of compounds, among which are aqueous vapor, free hydrogen, carbureted hydrogen, carbonic acid, light volatile hydrocarbons condensable into spirit or oil, and, as the distillation goes on, other condensable oils of different specific gravities are given off, and among which are heavyoils and whatis called dead-oil, which mix mechanically with other products, and settle to the bottom of the receiving-vessel, and the compound thus formed is called tar. The nitrogen and sulphur present enter into new combinations, producing ainmoniacal and sulphur compounds.

In the retort there finally remains a quantity of fixed carbon or coke, containing the ash, which usually consists of silica, alumina, lime, and the oxides of manganese, iron, and some other substances.

The condensable distillates, which consti-. tute the principal product of the coal, subside in the receiverinto different strata, according to their specific gravities.

If the coal be subjected to higher temperatures than those referred to, the products of distillation are somewhat changed, a larger volume of gases is produced, and less eondensable matter, and, consequently, more carbon, remainsin the retort.

When bituminous and cannel coals are subjected to the process of distillation under a full white heat, the products are chiefly hydrogen, light carbureted hydrogen, and carbonic oxide. Bisulphide of carbon, sulphureted hydrogen, ammonia, cyanogen, N 0 O Y, and sulphocyanogen, U N 6;, O Y S are also formed.

The amount of carbonaceous matterleft in the retort under a white heat is much larger than under a red heat. Under the latter temperature from forty to forty-five per cent. of the carbon contained in the coal remains in the retort, while under a white heat from sixty-five to seventy per cent. remains.

It is evident from the products obtained from the distillation of coal under various temperatures that neither a high nor low heat alone is suited to the process of eliminating and gasifying the heat-producing elements contained in coal. Under the former the products given off from the coal are mostly gaseous and solid; under the latter, fluid and solid.

pounds produced other than gaseous hydrocarbons, under both a high and low heat, are

not only numerous, but are wholly unfitted for the production of heat.

An exampleof what occurs in the distillation'of bituminous coal under different temperatures is afforded in the manufacture of illuminating-gas. The process of the distillation of coal, as ordinarily practiced in the manufacture of illuminating-gas, is attended with the production of a great variety of compounds other than illuminatinggas, and hence the results, both to the manufacturer and the consumer, are unsatisfactory.

With alow heat the quantity of gas produced is small, though its luminosity is good. With a high heat a larger quantity is produced ,7 yet its luminosity is very poor, while a m dium temperature is attended with ne1ther economy nor the production of a gas of satisfactory quality. Hence, in either case, the

result is a costly product to consumers.

obtained Light carbureted hydrogen, hydrogen, hydrocarbons of the olefiant gas series, carbonic oxide, carbonic acid, pyroligneous or impure acetic acid, eupione, pyroxanthine, paraffine, creosote, oxyphenic acid, pittacal, ammonia, .aqueous vapor, volatile and fixed oils, wood-tar; and charcoal, which contains the ashes or inorganic constituents, is left in the retort.

Light carbureted hydrogen, hydrogen, carbonic acid, carbonic oxide, hydrocarbons of the olefiant gas series, volatile and fixed oils, paraffine, creosote, acetic acid, ammonia, sulphate of ammonia, pyroxylic spirit or wood naphtha, aqueous vapor, peat-tar, and charcoal remain in the retort.

The analysis of the chief products given off from different kinds of crude fuel by distillation under various temperatures shows that they are constituted as follows:

First, gaseous products, hydrogen and bydrocarbons: Hydrogen, H; light carbureted hydrogen, H olefiant gas, or ethylene, O H acetylene, 0 11 propylene, 0 H bntylene or tetrylene, 0 H

Second, liquid products, light, oily hydrocarbons Benzole, U H toluol, (D -H cumol, G H cymol, G H photogen, light paraffine oil, and other hydrocarbon oils of the para-ffine series. Y

Third, solid hydrocarbon products: Paraffine, O H naphthaline, (J H paranapthaline, O H pyrene, 05 13 crysene, G H

Fourth, nitro-hydrocarbon, mobile oily products: Aniline, 0 H N; ohinoline, 0 H N; leucolene, 0 H, N; picoline, 0 H N; pyridine, 0 H N; toluidine, 0 E N.

Fifth, ammoniacal compounds: Carbonate of ammonia, N H, O O 0 sulphate of ammonia, N H, O S 0 hydrosulphate of sulphide of ammonium, N H, S H S.

Sixth, sulphureted-hydrogen gas, H S. Seventh, bisulphidclof carbon, (liquid,) 0 S Eighth, gaseous oxides of carbon Carbonic oxide, 0 O; carbonic anhydride, 0 O

Ninth, carbolic acid, phenol, 0 H 0 Tenth, aqueous products, water, H O. The action of heat upon these products is as follows:

First series-The gaseous hydrocarbons, when passed through tubes heated to a full 1 redness, are decomposed, and deposit all but 1 one equivalent of their carbon, and light carbureted hydrogen is formed. If the latter compound be passed through tubes heated to in olefiant gas. When these gasesare passed through highly-heated tubes, they are decomposed, depositing all but one equivalent of their carbon, and double their volume of light carbureted hydrogen is formed.

Third series-The solid hydrocarbons, for the most part may be distilled when subjected to a very high heat, but without much change in their composition. When distilled at a white heat, in contactwith highly-heated steam, they are decomposed, and a rearrangement of their elements occurs; a large proportion of their carbon is deposited, and bydrocarbon gases are formed of the ethylene series 0- H the oxygen of the steam combines with-a portion of the carbon, to form carbonic oxide, while the hydrogen of the steam is set free. this series, like olefiant gas, are decomposed when passed through highly-heated tubes, forming light earbureted hydrogen, and depositing carbon.

Fourth series. -\Vhen the vapor of nitrohydrocarbons is passed through highly-heated tubes, carbon is deposited, ammonia and a small quantity of hydrocyanic acid are given off, and a dense hydrocarbon liquid remains in the receiver. If this liquidbe subjected to a white heat, in contact with highly-heated steam, similar results occur to that described in the decomposition of the compounds of the third series.

Fifth series.-Oarbonate of ammonia is volatilized by heat, and,when passedthrou gh a heat ed tube with steam, it is decomposed, a portion of the ammonia and carbolic acid is evolved, and a solution of a single carbonate remains. When sulphate of ammonia is subjected to a temperature of only536 Fahrenheit it is -decomposed, nitrogen and ammonia are liberated, and sulphite of ammonia and water are formed. Hydrosulphate of sulphide of ammo- The hydrocarbon-gases of nium is decomposed when passed through highly heated tubes. A small quantity of sulphur is deposited, and ammonia and sulphureted hydrogen are liberated.

Sixth series. Sulphureted hydrogen is decomposed when the gas is passed through a tube heated to full redness, the sulphur is deposited in the receiver, and the hydrogenis set free.

Seventh series.-The vapor of bisulphide of carbon is decomposed when passed through tubes heated to whiteness with intensely-heated-steam. The oxygen of the steam unites with the carbon to form carbonic oxide, and the hydrogen with the sulphur to form sulphureted hydrogen, which is decomposed by heat, as above stated.

Eighth series-Carbonic oxide remains unchanged when passed through tubes heated to the highest intensity. Carbonic anhydride, (acid,) when passed through tubes filled with carbon highly heated, is decomposed and converted into carbonic oxide.

Ninth series-Carbonic acid is decomposed only to a limited extent when passed through a red-hot tube, yielding a small quantity of solid olefiant gas, (naphthaline,) but when passed with highly-heated steam through a tube heated to whiteness, it yields a variety of compounds, among which are theoxides of carbon, free carbon, and hydrocarbon gas, identical with olefiant gas. This gas burns with a white smokelessfiame of peculiar splendor and brilliancy.

Tenth series.--Aqueous vapor, as is well, known, is decomposed when passed through a tube filled with small shavings or strips of iron heated to a bright redness; also, when highlybeated steam is brought in contact with the vapor of metallic zinc; likewise, when highlyheated steam is brought in contact with incandescent carbon. In the former cases the oxygen of the steam combines with the metals forming solid oxides, while the hydrogen is liberated. With the latter the oxygen unites with the carbon, to form the gaseous oxides of carbon, while the hydrogen is set free.

Eleventh series.-Substances obtained from the distillation of wood and peat. Acetic acid, (C H 0 H.) \Vhen the vapor of acetic acid is passed through a red-hot tube, a portion is decomposed, yielding free carbon and com bustible gases, acetone, naphthaline, hydrate of phenyl, and benzole.

If the vapor of acetic acid be passed through carbon in a highly-heated tube, itis entirely decomposed, yielding hydrocarbon gases and carbonic oxide.

Acetone, (0 H 0 when passed in a state of vapor. through a redhot tube, deposits carbon, and is converted into a peculiar oil called dumasin. This oil, when passed over incandescent carbon, is converted into inflammable gases.

Eupione, (0 E The vapor of eupionc is decomposed when passed through a highlyheated tube,yielding hydrocarbon gases.

Methylic alcohol, (0 H 0 syn. wood naphtha, pyroxylic-spirit. The vapor of methylic alcohol passed through a red-hot tube yields olefiant gas and aqueous vapor.

Pyroxanthine, (0 H 0 when highly heated, is decomposed, depositing carbon and yieldinginflammable gases and aqueous vapor. Greosote, (O H 0 The vapor of creosote, when passed through a tube heated to whiteness, is decomposed, depositing carbon and yielding inflammable gases and aqueous contain isolated and converted into inflammable' gases.

This constitutes the nature of my invention, the operation of which is as follows:

The two vertical retorts are tilled with small pieces of fire-brick, or other suitable substance indestructible by heat. These retorts are kept ata white heat of from 2,700 to 3,000 Fahrenheit.

The'crude fuel or material subjected to the process of volatilization is first placed in the receiving-retort, where it is subjected to the process of distillation under a red heat of from 800 to 1,000 Fahrenheit, according to the nature of the material employed.

The volatile products, as eliminated from this material, are conveyed directly into the vertical retort connected with the receivingretort, and pass up through the white-hot ma terial contained in this retort.

The object of the material in the vertical retorts is to divide the volatile products into infinitesimal particles or streams, and to retain in the retorts the free carbon and solid hydrocarbons by filtration, so that none of these substances go over with the gases from the re torts. Y

By this means the volatile hydrocarbons given 011' by distillation from the materials employed are decomposed, depositing free carbon and-solid hydrocarbons of the third series, and forming a variety of gases of different specific gravities.

These gases, with more or less vapors which have escaped decomposition in the first vertical retort, pass from this retort through the connecting-pipe into and down through the other vertical retort, where they, in their passage through the incandescent material con-- tained in this retort, again deposit a portion of their carbon and are converted into permanent inflammable gases.

The aqueous vapor formed in the receivingretort is also decomposed in the first vertica retort, where it comes in contact with carbon deposited there, and which, under the high heat, has become incandescent.

Both carbonic oxide and carbonic acid are formed in the decomposition of the aqueous vapor by carbon, and the hydrogen ot' the steam is set free, while the carbonic acid is decomposed in its passage through the incandescent carbon deposited in the second vertical retort, and is changed into carbonic oxide.

When the material subjected to distillation in the receiving-retort ceases to give ofi' gaseous and volatile products, then steam heated to redness is admitted in small and regulated quantities into this retort, where a portion of it is decomposed, forming the oxides of carbon and liberating hydrogembut the greater portion of the steam passes on in contact with the free carbon and solid hydrocarbons remaining in the vertical retorts, where a rearrangement of the elements of steam and the solid hydrocarbons and free carbons takes place, and which results in the formation of permanent inflammable gases of different specific gravities.

The hydrocarbons of the third series are principally formed in the receiving-retort and volatilized by heat, and, hence, are displaced by distillation with the other volatile products and carried into the vertical retorts, where they are partially decomposed, giving up a portion of the hydrogen they contain, and become solid, and are deposited in these retorts where they are no longer volatilized by heat, but may be transformed into inflammable gases by highly-heated steam, as above stated.

It is these compounds that are so annoying and troublesome to the manufacturers of ordinary illuminating-gas. They are given olt' from coal by distillation with other products, and become deposited in the standpipes, often filling them up solid. These deposits have to be removed with bars of iron, and are a dead waste in the ordinary manufacture of illuminating-gas, and yet they are composed of carbon and hydrogen, the very materials essential to the production of gas, but cannot be utilized in the ordinary process of gas-makin By my invention these compounds are wholly utilized, as well as the product known as coal-tar, by conversion into permanent inflammable gases.

First, by the new process, a ton of gas-coal will yield from eighty to eighty-five thousand cubic feet of gas, whereas the ordinary yield of illuminating-gas from the same quantity of coal is scarcely ten thousand cubic feet.

Second, the receiving-retort is designed to hold a ton or more of coal at a single charge, which is placed in the retort by machinery so quickly that little or no loss of gas occurs; at the same time a great saving of time and labor is effected.

Third, the receiving-retorts requirechargin g only three timesin twenty-four hours, whereas, in the manufacture of illuminating-gas, as ordinarily conducted, the retorts are charged about every four hours, which is very destructive to the retorts, from the frequent introduction of cold material into them while highly heated.

Fourth, by the new process all the coal-tar and other heavy hydrocarbons and free carbons, not utilized'in the ordinary manufacture of illuminating-gas, are converted into permanent inflammable gases.

Fifth, the gas manufactured by the new process contains very few impurities, and these in small quantities only. It is evident that it couldnot contain more than one-eighth the amount of impurities existing in ordinary illuminating-gas, as eight times the quantity of gas is made by the new process, from a given quantity of coal, that is made of illuminating-gas. Not only is this the case, but the sulphureted hydrogen, bisulphide of carbon, and most of the ammoniacal compounds formed in the distillation of coal, are decomposed in the vertical 'retorts, and the hydrogen they contained set free, while the carbonic acid is converted into carbonic oxide, a gas as inflammable as hydrogen, and both of which add to the volume of gas produced. The purification of the gas made by the new method will therefore cost less than one-eighth that of illuminating-gas as ordinarily made.

Sixth, it is evident that, as eight times the quantity of gas is made by the new process over the old, much less room for the storage of coal is required and much less capital to conduct the business there is, also, no tar to dispose of or deposit of solid carbon or other material to remove from the retorts and pipes I in the manner practiced in the old process of gas manufacture; besides, the new method is in no wise a nuisance to the neighborhood in which the gas is produced.

Seventh, the gas produced by the new proc ess, though consisting of a variety of gases of different specific gravities, becomes (according to the well-known law of diffusion of gases) perfectly mixed-that isflthey intermingle with each other throughout the entire body of the gas, so thatthe free hydrogen present,

though lightest of all the gases, exists in uniform proportions throughout the entire gaseous body. I

These gases are also permanent in their character, and, therefore, not condensable by cold or ordinary pressure in the holder or pipes, as is the case with the luminiferous constituents of ordinary cOa-Lgas, which consti-' tutes a very serious waste of the very best light-producing elements existing in the gas.

It is a well-established fact that a small proportion only of the heat-producing elements is utilized in the use of ordinary fuel. This is the result of imperfect combustion of these elements. Perfect combustion of fuel cannot be obtained without flame, and no form of fuel can be made to produce flame unless firstconverted into gas. The temperature of an ordinary fire from bituminous coal, wood, or peatis too feeble to convert the entire volatile products of these substances'into gas, and hence a very large proportion of the heatprod ucin g elements they contain is wasted.

The burning of wood, peat, or bituminous coal, as ordinarily practiced, is a process of simple distillation, in contact with the atmos phere, by which the fuel is mainly converted into smoke, aqueous vapor, hydrocarbon vapors, and gases.

These vapors and unoxidized carbon or smoke and carbonic acid, when mingled with the inflammable gases generated, so far envelop them as to partially obstruct the free contact of the oxygen of the atmosphere with the gaseous body, so that a partial combustion only of the inflammable gases themselves takes place, while the vapors and smoke not only escape combustion, but also become a vehicle for the transmission of a portion of the heat by the flue.

In burning anthracite coal, charcoal, or the coke of gas-houses, a flame is produced whenever the supply of oxygen is sufficient to form carbonic acid beneath the mass of ignited coal. c

The first efiect of combustion of anthracite coal is a glow flame, the form of which is scarcely visible, and, as the carbonic acid passes up through the red-hot coal, it is changed into carbonic acid, by taking up an additional quantity of carbon, equal to that it already contained.

This gas, when exposed to the free action of the atmosphere, takes fire above the bed of coal and burns with a-visible flame; but if the supply of oxygen is insufficient to form carbonicacid at the bottom of the ignited coal, then a slow combustion takes place, resulting directly in carbonic oxide, which,-without a sufficient supply of oxygen, escapes combustion, and is carried off by the flue, and wasted as a heat-producing agent, as truly so as though it were wood or coal scattered to the winds by a continuous process, so that theordinary use of even anthracite coal forms no exception to the rule of imperfect combustion and consequent waste of the heat-producin g elements contained in crude fuel.

To economize the heat-producing elements contained in ordinary fuel, they must first be isolated in the gaseous form out of contact with the atmosphere, and afterward burned, so as to secure perfect combustion, which results in the formation of carbonic acid and aqueous vapor.

The gas made by the new process is dry and perfectly free from condensable matter of every kind, and, therefore, capable of rapid and perfect combustion, producing, without dust, soot, or ashes, a hot, smokeless flame, that may be disposed of at i will by merely turning off the gas, when the heat is not re quired.

A great number of burners and other appliances for the use of inflammable gases, as a source of heat, is already inexistencc, and new inventions for this purpose are almost daily added to the list, and, therefore, it is not necessary here to describe any particular method for burning inflammable gases.

The gas made by the new method may be conveyed through pipes to consumers the same as illuminating-gas, and is'applicable to industrial pursuits, and also to all the various purposes of domestic life requiring artificial heat.

It may be compressed and used in locomotives with great economy and convenience, and by which the terrible nuisance of smoke, cinders, and poisonous gases, which produce so much discomfort and sickness among passengers in rail-cars, may be avoided.

The gas generated on board of ocean steamers, and used for generating steam, and for other purposes requiring heat, would be the means of an immense saving of coal, asit would not require half the quantity that is now used to produce the same results.

By the new process the gas may be made so as to be wholly free from bicarbureted hydro gen, and in this form well adapted to metallurgical and chemical purposes, especially in connection with oxygen, in producing the oxyhydrogen flame.

With the recent facilities for obtaining oxygen, this gas may be employed for the production of the oXy-hydrogen light so cheaply that this light may be employed for many purposes with great economy and convenience.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The form and arrangement of retorts, in the manner and for the purposes specified, substantially as above set forth.

2. The method of subjecting crude fuel to the process of distillation, in the manner and for the purposes named in the foregoing spec-iiication, substantially as above set forth.

3. The method or process of isolating and eliminating in the gaseous form the heat-producing elements contained in crude fuel, in the manner described in the foregoing specification, substantially as above set forth.-

4. The method of decomposing and converting the various compounds given off from crude fuel by distillation into permanent inflammable gases, in the manner and by the process specified, substantially as above set forth.

5. The method or process of decomposing and converting into permanent inflammable gases the solid hydrocarbons generated in the process of distillation of crude fuel, by means of highly-heated steam, in the manner specified, substantially as above set forth.

6. The method of decomposing the heavy oils and other hydrocarbons generated in the process of the distillation of the crude fuel into permanent inflammable gases, in the manner and by the means specified, substantially as above set forth.

7. The method of decomposing and converting the light, oily products, and other bydrocarbons given off from crude fuel by distillation, into permanent inflammable gases, in the manner specified, substantially as above set forth.

8. The method of decomposing aqueous vapor generated in the process of distillation of crude fuel into permanent inflammable gases, by passing the vapor through the ver tical retorts in contact with highly-heated carbon, deposited in these retorts in the manner specified, substantially as above set forth.

9. The method of taking up the residue of free carbon deposited in the retorts from the decomposition of the various hydrocarbon compounds given off from crude fuel by distillation, and converting this carbon into permanent inflammable gases, by means ofhighlyheated steam, in the manner specified, substantially as above set forth.

10. The method of converting the carbonic acid generated in the process of distilling crude fuel into carbonic oxide, by passing the carbonic acid through the vertical retorts, in contact with highly-heated carbon, in the manner as specified, substantially as above set forth.

11. The method of decomposing the sulphur and ammoniacal compounds generated in the distillation of crude fuel, and liberating the hydrogen contained in these compounds, in

the manner specified,substantially as above set forth.

12. A combination of the various processes and means employed, as a whole, for the purpose of isolating and eliminating, in the gaseons form, the heat-producing elements contained in crude fuel, in the manner described and set forth in the foregoing specification; and this I claim, whether the means employed for this purpose be in the precise form described by me or otherwise, so long as substantially the same results are produced.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of November, A. D. 1869.

XVILLIAM ELMER. Witnesses:

A. D. ELMER, GEO. H. CoLLINs. 

